Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-25

powerful influence ". the political thobght
of the day, Mr.. Parks would soon have
taken place in tie front rank IS one of the
strongest and wisest of the nations patri-
cts. AS it was, he'comma,eaed recognition
in California as a man OF remarkable
a natural leader Of meE; masterful chief
i'll political action, whc led with fearless
ness yet with caution; who measured adj
@ersarles accurately, and whose foresight,
Imental equilibrium and sagacity made him
foe to be feared and leader TO be re-
spected and heHored
1t is the fate of most fearless, confident
and considerations men who lead, to be mis-
Judged by some and maligned by Others.
In some respects William H. Parks, of all
the brilliant leaders in the Republican
party in this State, was the target for the
most abuse and the object of the most cruel
| assaults. 1t seemed at one time to be treated
by a portion OF the partial press as a pub
lie offense that he entertained the honor
| able ambition to serve his State and devote
his energies to her welfare. Some of the
press, for reasons that have never fully
developed, was especially malignant in its
assaults at the time that Mr. Parks in con-
Rection with the present Chief Justice of
tke Supreme Court and a prominent citi-
zen of Sacramento, were of the Drainage
Commission. He appeared to be singled
most merclless attacks, and thereafter and
until his retiracy from public life, partial
influences continued to couple his name
with inuendoes and to refer to his labor for
the State in expressions that were nothing
less than insulting Nothing more sig
nally indicated the character of the man
than the fact that these shafts fell from
him like blows upon invincible coats of
steel. His course was never affected by
them; once entered upon, he pursued it
utterly regardless of vicious assaults. Such
things never disturbed his equanimity or
caused him to waver. Rarely indeed did
they call from him remark or reply. 1t
was sufficient for him to know his duty to
insure its faithful discharge, no matter
what opposing forces beset the way.
He lived down calumny and rose superior
to malicious SANDER, as only great charac-
tiers can. In all the whirl and hustle and
contention in which he took part in molding
State policy and building social conditions
into fabric of permancy and symmetry,
his integrity remained mistaken. To
those who knew him intimately, his
character revealed itself as that of one of
the most loVeabie of men, pure of thought,
self respecting, true as steel, brave and
patriotic to the degree of enthusiasm of
which heroes are born. AS great structures
develop their architectural grandeur only
from distance, so with the recession Of
time great characters rise loftier, their
minor blemishes of humanity being lost in
the view of the completeness of the
symmetrical whole. The character Of
VIM. II. Parks will, under such test. rise
holder and nobler, as the people contemplate
the career and ambition, and hopes and
aims and devotion of the man. His COM
munity, the confidence of which he en-
joyed in SO high degree, and that 50 often
during so many years manifested its faith
in him by committing to him great trusts.
will feel his death to be severe blow.
The State has lost, but that community
has lost more, and will mourn his untimely
taking off with the depth and sincerity
that only high characters and manly at
tributes invoke